This afternoon's AIB All-Ireland club semi-final differs from run-of-the-mill replays in that five weeks have elapsed since the draw. Not alone has that created problems for the preparation of the teams, but in hurling terms it's significant.

The difference between February and the end of March is potentially as dramatic as it's possible to get between draw and replay in a hurling match, but, with the poor spring weather, conditions aren't likely to vary much from the first match.

Whereas the field at Thurles will be excellent as usual and a clear afternoon is forecast, it won't have developed a great bounce. Had the weather improved more conventionally, it would probably have been to the advantage of GraigueBallycallan whose nippier forwards would have benefited.

Whichever team better manages to eliminate mistakes will certainly have an advantage because both sides were careless the last day. Sixmilebridge were hesitant at the back and gave ball away at an alarming rate. Their opponents reciprocated by shooting a stack of wides - 11 compared to the Clare side's two; otherwise they might have broken the back of the match by half-time.

The 'Bridge deserve some credit in defence for not conceding a score from a free - Graigue-Ballycallan hit only one free wide. At the other end, it was a different story with Niall Gilligan's seven points all shot from his unerring free-taking.

The team's attacking problems largely centre on how to get the ball to their forward-in-chief who had to be brought out the field in search of possession at one stage. This is a conundrum because Gilligan - as his galvanic second goal demonstrated - is more dangerous close to goal but frequently has to forage for possession further out.

Of more concern to the Munster champions was the relative failure at centrefield where Stiofan Fitzpatrick and Christy Chaplin faded after a promising start. Their strength through the central positions had been a feature of the Munster campaign but they struggled a bit in general between the 45s the last day.

Furthermore, the full-back line proved very leaky, the craft of Adrian Ronan and the pace of Eddie Brennan costing 1-8 from play and Thomas Dermody also proving a handful for John O'Connell.

As well as looking for improved accuracy, Graigue-Ballycallan need more consistent presence as they wilted almost fatally in the final quarter, allowing Sixmilebridge back into the match although the recovery and tenacity at the very end of the match redeemed them.

There is a feeling that the break has been more to Graigue-Ballycallan's advantage. Their forwards look to have more room for improvement than their opponents'. The 'Bridge's dependence on Gilligan makes them vulnerable; even Ronan isn't as integrally important to the Kilkenny champions.

No matter that conditions might not have improved substantially, they certainly haven't deteriorated and it's correspondingly hard to see Sixmilebridge coping much better with the liveliness of the opposing forwards.

The draw was Graigue-Ballycallan's first championship venture to Thurles and first All-Ireland tie - in other words Sixmilebridge won't have the edge in experience this time. The balance may have tilted against the Munster champions.